ARLINGTON, Va.—From pipelines and power grids to simulators and "smart dust," National Science Foundation (NSF)-supported collaborations have led to research breakthroughs important to industry and universities.

In a two-day conference next week, "30 Years of Partnership: Past Successes and New Challenges in Cooperative Research," NSF will highlight past successes and future advances arising from the Industry/University Cooperative Research Centers (I/UCRC) Program.

Media are invited to meet three center directors at a special reception and hear program highlights and previews of the main events.

Ian Pepper will highlight the Water Quality Center, which developed water quality standards used by the World Health Organization.

Ed Haug will showcase the Center for Virtual Proving Ground Simulation, which has created full-motion, panoramic simulators that replicate the driving experience for vehicles ranging from Jeep Cherokees to Freightliner trucks, offering insight for safer operation.

John Ringo will discuss the Center for Design of Analog/Digital Integrated Circuits, which is working to perfect advanced electronics hardened against radiation and honed for use in military satellites.

This private session will be followed by the event's opening reception attended by leading university researchers and representatives of industry, including Fortune 500 companies Intel and IBM.

The two-day workshop will showcase presentations from researchers and industry, along with keynote addresses from Joe Bordogna, deputy director of NSF; U.S. Congressman Nick Smith of Michigan's 7th district and chair of the House Subcommittee on Research; John White, Jr., National Science Board member and chancellor of the University of Arkansas; Kathleen Kingscott, director of public affairs for IBM Corp.; and David Tennenhouse, vice president of the Corporate Technology Group and director of research for Intel Corp.

Editor's Note: High-resolution graphics and animations are available at http://www.nsf.gov/od/lpa/news/03/ma0354_images.htm for download and publication, along with short biographies for the press reception speakers, an agenda for the anniversary events, and an electronic version of the anniversary booklet highlighting the I/UCRC program and its recent successes.

Event Details:

Who:

Joe Bordogna, deputy director of NSF
Congressman Nick Smith of Michigan's 7th district and chair of the House Subcommittee on ResearchJohn White, Jr., National Science Board member and chancellor of the University of ArkansasIan Pepper, Water Quality CenterEd Haug, Center for Virtual Proving Ground SimulationJohn Ringo, Center for Design of Analog/Digital Integrated Circuits, Kathleen Kingscott, director of public affairs for IBM Corp.David Tennenhouse, vice president of the Corporate Technology Group and director of research for Intel Corp.
Other academic and industry leaders

What:

30th Anniversary of the National Science Foundation Industry/University
Cooperative Research Centers Program

The Industry/University Cooperative Research Centers (I/UCRC) program develops long-term partnerships among industry, academe, and government. The centers are catalyzed by a small investment from NSF and are primarily supported by center members, with NSF taking a supporting role in their development and evolution. Each center is established to conduct research that is of interest to both industry and the university with which it is involved, with the provision that industry must provide major support to the center at all times. NSF supports more than 40 I/UCRCs in a range of areas including bioinstrumentation, ergonomics, biosurfaces, pharmaceutical processing, nondestructive evaluation, wireless reliability and others.

The National Science Foundation (NSF) is an independent federal agency that supports fundamental research and education across all fields of science and engineering, with an annual budget of nearly $5.3 billion. NSF funds reach all 50 states through grants to nearly 2,000 universities and institutions. Each year, NSF receives about 30,000 competitive requests for funding, and makes about 10,000 new funding awards. The NSF also awards over $200 million in professional and service contracts yearly.

Winter image of an electric power transmission line.Credit: Institut de Recherche d'Hydro-Quebec
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The NSF Center for Virtual Proving Ground Simulation helped create the simulation technologies that led to the National Advanced Driving Simulator, developed and owned by the U.S. DOT/National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and operated by The University of Iowa. The motion of the device provides realistic motion cues to drivers during certain vehicle maneuvers.Credit: National Advanced Driving Simulator, U.S. Department of Transportation National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, the University of Iowa, NSF
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Four National Advanced Driving Simulator cabs are available for public use: a Malibu, a Taurus, a Jeep Cherokee, and a Freightliner. These cabs can be reconfigured to represent other existing or futuristic vehicles that provide drivers with realistic feedback in response to driver inputs, vehicle motions, wind loading, and tire/road interactions. The picture shows the Jeep cab in the dome.Credit: National Advanced Driving Simulator, U.S. Department of Transportation National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, the University of Iowa, NSF.
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The National Advanced Driving Simulator (NADS) fixed-bay simulator, the simulation development module (SDM). The SDM supports development and testing of experimental procedures and protocols and the integration of new technology into the simulation environment or new in-vehicle technology into NADS cabs. The picture shows the Freightliner cab in the dome along with a partial view of the 120-degree field-of-view screen in the SDM.Credit: National Advanced Driving Simulator, U.S. Department of Transportation National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, the University of Iowa, NSF.
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This animation illustrates driver and simulator views of a highway passing maneuver, a driving scenario often included in driving safety research. (Click on the image above to view the animation.) Credit: National Advanced Driving Simulator, the University of Iowa
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This animation includes a flyover and inside view of the National Advanced Driving Simulator building and control room at the University of Iowa, Oakdale Campus. (Click on the above image to view the animation.) Credit: National Advanced Driving Simulator, the University of Iowa
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This animation illustrates braking and a vehicle spin-out maneuver using the National Advanced Driving Simulator. (Click on the above image to view the animation.)Credit: National Advanced Driving Simulator, the University of Iowa
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